A lot of guys on movie forums really act like they don't like Shia, but I think he's great. If he wasn't such a good actor, then his movies would totally bomb. Transformers was super successful and so was the Temple of the Crystal Skull. If any other actor had done those roles, would those movies have been as successful?

A lot of guys on movie forums really act like they don't like Shia, but I think he's great. If he wasn't such a good actor, then his movies would totally bomb. Transformers was super successful and so was the Temple of the Crystal Skull. If any other actor had done those roles, would those movies have been as successful?

Let's start a more in depth discussion, then. Does anyone think that someone other than Shia could have pulled over the bad boy character of Mutt in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ?

Let's start a more in depth discussion, then. Does anyone think that someone other than Shia could have pulled over the bad boy character of Mutt in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ?

Bad boy character? Really?

I really like Shia - he's definitely got an appeal for people around my age group. While I think he's really hot, I also acknowledge that his looks are fairly 'normal' for your average film star these days. I think that's what makes him appealing, he's somebody you feel you can relate to a little more. The kind of guy you'd love to chew the fat with over a few drinks down at the pub. I do like him as an actor, he seems very at ease in what he does, and he's got brilliant comedic timing which brings that little extra something to whatever he's in.

However, I have to say, I've not yet seen him stretched as an actor. And as harsh as it is to say, yes I do think the roles he's played so far could have been played by anybody else. Mutt was rather 2D, and likewise with the character he played in Disturbia. I couldn't imagine Transformers without him in it mind you.

I am looking forward to seeing him in future films though. I think he has a lot of talent, and a lot of promise. I'm looking forward to him trying to challenge himself in future. I think he could easily become one of the best actors going in the next decade or so.

I'm hoping so.

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"I am not in danger, Skyler. I AM the danger! A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!"

I think he has a ton of potential, too. Once he is able to take on adult roles and not just the young character, then I think he can explode on Hollywood movies. Maybe he should play a dad or grow a beard. I dunno. He is doing a lawyer movie soon, so that might be a good transition to adult roles.

I think he has a ton of potential, too. Once he is able to take on adult roles and not just the young character, then I think he can explode on Hollywood movies. Maybe he should play a dad or grow a beard. I dunno. He is doing a lawyer movie soon, so that might be a good transition to adult roles.

Yes, I think those are two most obvious options for him to hit the big time, right there.

On a more serious note, yes his next upcoming film could be the transitional one he needs. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

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"I am not in danger, Skyler. I AM the danger! A guy opens his door and gets shot and you think that of me? No. I am the one who knocks!"

Shia started out on in Rodney Dangerfields Comedy Store doing raunchy stand up at the age of 10, then went to Disney's Even Steven's. To go from that to Transformer's and Indiana Jones, that's a trick within itself. He's a great actor, powerful, intense when he needs to be (The Guide To Recognizing Your Saints) laid back and subdued (The Greatest Game) action minded (Transformers, Eagle Eye, Indy 4) subtle (Bobby) he even turned a cheezy horror-teen-thriller movie into something you can actually enjoy and watch Disturbia. He's had 4 big box office hits in a row. One of the most go to actors right now, he's got that young Tom Hanks thing, with a hint of Robert Downey Jr. and whip smart sarcasm of Vince Vaughn. He's always fun to watch and he's cute too. He seems to be taking it all in stride, aside from the car flip and arrest at Walgreens (he's not boring) with the occasional bag over the face as the paparazzi snaps away.

I am not greatly fond of Shia, I should be honest from the beginning. I think both Transformers and Indy IV were box-office successes not because of Shia's thespian skill and amazing performance, which, in my appreciation, he still has not shown signs of possessing and producing respectively, but for reasons related to the franchise of either film.

Transformers is the live action film rendition of the iconic cartoon series, of which I'm a huge geeky fan , my pretentious taste in films notwithstanding, which had an immense following among the movie-going population. In this movie, it is the alien robots and their ability to transform (which sets them apart) that are the stars and true protagonists, not the humans and their story. In other words, people went to see the robots transform and engage in combat, not to watch a love story develop between Megan Fox and Shia. Furthermore, though I cannot stand Michael Bay's action sequences -- I find them to be too fast & too confusing -- the movie was spectacular in that respect, and naturally it was a carefully Media-hyped commercial product. I think this explains, to a certain extent, the box-office success of the film.

Indy IV was a much expected film, although after watching it, both audiences and critics felt disillusioned at the result. However, Indy has also got a huge following from more than two decades ago, and even though a lot of people -- myself included -- did approach it with a measure of reservation (due to prior reading of reviews) -- we went to watch it in cinemas nonetheless, because we felt it was a cinema event, more than a home-cinema event; therefore the box-office success. In this movie, Harrison Ford, not Shia is the star.

Now, as you noticed, in both the examples you mentioned Shia is not at the core of interest, nor is he the reason why audiences had flooded theatres. So, I don't think the box-office success -- mind you, not the critical acclaim, which neither movie has garnered -- can either be put down to Shia's thespian contribution, or is an unequivocal indication of his talent.

I think Shia is one of those young actors that studios choose to perform roles suitable for their age, he has some talent and looks nice on film, by some standards, but he should, for his own good, work harder to establish himself as an actor whose acting skill will open him the door to a future, sturdy career.

Totally valid points. I had no idea that the Transformers had ever been a comic strip, but that explains some of the fanbase that it had before even premiering. I think Shia was important because it gave the audience someone to relate to and identify with. His reactions to the giant robots were the reactions of all of us, in a way.

As for the Indiana Jones movie, I thought the Indiana Jones character was interesting, but I thought Shia's Mutt was the coolest character in the movie. He had a motorcycle and did cool stunts and had a complex anger and abandonment issues whereas Harrison Ford's character was just looking for treasure and acting like he knew more than his son.

I am glad to say I knew Shia would be an great actor one day, when I was a kid I used to watch the Disney sitcom Even Stevens, which starred Shia in the lead, the show lasted for 3 seasons and is aired from time to time on CBBC.

Afterwards he did some TV movies and would be spotted doing small roles in movies like Charlies Angels: Full Throttle, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Llyod, I Robot and Constantine. He had one good role which was the 2003 Disney movie Holes. In 2006 in appeared in A Guide to Recognising your Saints and Bobby.

However he became famous in 2007 with his summer hit Transformers opposite Megan Fox. Previously in 2007 he had made a Rear Window style movie Disturbia which I thought was really good.

He had more success in 2008 with Indy IV (really good) and Eagle Eye (still need to see).

If you're a fan of Shia and havent seen Even Stevens, then I strongly recommend that you check your TV guide seeinf if CBBC will air the show again. In the show Shia is really young 10 years I think and the comedy is great, already one of my favourite all time kids shows.